The auspicious festival of Maha Shivratri, the Night of Bhagwan Shiva – Maha Shivratri is the most important festival for the millions of Bhakta’s of Bhagwan Shiva aka Mahadev. This festival has tremendous spiritual significance for Hindus and Hinduism as per the scriptures and ITIHASA of Hindu Dharma. It is believed that a Bhakta who performs sincere worship of Bhagwan Shiva on the auspicious day of Maha Shivratri is absolved of sins and attains moksha. According to sacred scriptures, ritual worship of Bhagwan Shiva on Maha Shivratri festival that falls on the 14 day of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalgun pleases Mahadev the most.
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥
कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारम्
संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम् |
सदा वसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे
भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि ||
ॐ नम शिवाय् ।।
Time: Phalguna Odia Month; Krishna Pakshya Chaturdashi Tithi (March 8 2024)
Bhubaneswar, Capital City of Odisha derived its name from the city’s presiding God, Shiva (Lingaraja Mandira) locally known as “Tribhuvanesvara” which means “the Bhagwan of the Three Worlds”. Locally (in Ekamra Ksetra) Bhagwan Shiva is referred as “Bhubaneswar” and after him the city is known as “Bhubaneswar”.
The temple city of Bhubaneswar has many ancient Shiva temples dotting its landscape. The most important and the ancient among them is Lingaraja Temple. In the temple, the festivals of Lingaraja Mahaprabhu are held throughout the year. A festival is called Yatra, meaning ‘journey’ of Lingaraja Mahaprabhu. The Nibandhakaras of Odisha have mentioned fourteen festivals or Chaturdasha Yatra’s. The Kalasara of Gadadhara Rajaguru speaks of the major fourteen festivals with their timing and rituals. The Sthala Mahatmyas such as the Ekamra Purana3, Ekamra Chandrika4 and Svarnadri Mahodaya5 provide details about the rituals of these festivals. MahaShivaratri is one of those Chaturdasha Yatra’s. This festival has a very unique significance in Ekamra Ksetra of Odisha i.e. especially for Bhubaneswar.
This festival is celebrated in a magnificent way in Lingaraja Mandira. Lakhs of Bhakta’s visit Lingaraja Mandira to offer prayers and to seek the gracious blessings of Bhagwan Shiva on this auspicious occasion. A special feature of the Mahashivaratri is the placing of a Mahadwipa on the top of the temple in the night. On every Chaturdashi night Mahadwipa is also placed on the temple, but this ritual on Maha Shivratri holds special significance in the hearts of Bhakt’s.
Significance of Mahadwipa’s Elevation and traditions in Ekamra Ksetra
As per folklores of Odisha, festival of Maha Shivratri is celebrated as a gratitude to Bhagwan Shiva for saving the world from the deadliest poison known as “हलाहल विष”. As per ITIHASA, during Samudra Manthan when हलाहल विष came out, Bhagwan Shiva drank the poison to save the world from getting destroyed. After drinking the हलाहल विष, Bhagwan Shiva became unconscious. Bhagwan Shiva kept the poison in his throat because swallowing it would have imperilled his life and he couldn’t throw it out because that meant the world ceases to exist. The poison made his throat turn blue; hence, he is also known as Nilakantha (the one with a blue throat).
Because of holding of this deadly poison in his throat, his body was getting heated and Devata’s tried various treatments/techniques to normalize the temperature of his body and get his consciousness back. Devata’s wrapped snakes to his throat to bring down the temperature, placed Chandrama on his head so as to instantly drop his body temperature, placed Ganga Devi also on his head, Panchamrita (पञ्चामृत) was applied on his full body, covered his full body with Bilva (Bel) leaves but still they couldn’t bring Bhagwan Shiv to conscious State. It is believed that finally after midnight, Mahashakti who is also Devi Parvati or Devi Durga came and took the poison from his throat. While taking back the halahala it was glowing like an enlightened Jwala (flame) and to commemorate this event, Mahadwipa / Mahadeepa / Mahadipa (http://incredibleorissa.com/lingaraj-temple-maha-shivaratri/) is carried to the top of Lingaraja Mandira on Maha Shivratri (in the night) and throughout the night in each prahara (once in 3 hours) Sodasha Upachana Puja is done.
After Bhagwan Shiva got back his consciousness, when he opened his eyes he first saw Bhagwan Vishnu as he was sitting near his feet. To honour this event a Murti or Vigraha of Bhagwan Vishnu (Hari) is brought inside the main sanctum of the temple and kept near the Shivalinga (Hara). This viddhi (ritual) is known as Hari-Hara Bheta. Since, Devata’s were doing “Seva” (service) to wake up Bhagwan Shiva throughout the night this festival is also known as “Jagara Yatra” and the night is known as “Jagara Ratri”.
After Mahadwipa is elevated in Lingaraja Mandira, Mahadwipa is elevated in all other temples across Odisha as per traditions. Some of the other prominent Shiva Temples in Odisha where similar viddhi’s are followed are Chandrasekhara (Kapilasa, Dhenkanal District), Dhabaleswara (Attagarha, Cuttack District), Gupteswara (Koraput District), Pancha Lingeswara (Nilagiri, Baleswar District), Akhandalamani (Aradi, Bhadrak District), Chandeneswara (Huguli, Baleswar District) and Nilakantheswara (Berhampur, Ganjam District).
Since ages, all Bhakta’s worship Bhagwan Shiva and perform all these rituals in the same manner as done by Devata’s. As per folklores, it is believed if someone with full devotion worship’s Lingaraja by observing full day fasting and breaks his fast after Mahadwipa is elevated, he/she attains Moksha. Apart from Viddhi’s, Ekamra Sanskrutika Prakasani conducts various other programmes like Sankha Dhwani, Geeta Patha, Shiva Sahasranama, Bhajan Samaroha (including Veda’s, Shiva Chetana, Hari-Hara Bhajan, Ramacharita Manasa), etc.
